The Resolution Mine Project of Oak Flat, Arizona: An Analysis of Social and Environmental Impact Assessments
Date
2016
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Bryn Mawr College. Department of Geology
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Abstract
The proposed Resolution Copper Mine at Oak Flat, Arizona is currently under review by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Tonto National Forest (TNF) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The Resolution Project is associated with the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange bill (2014), in which 2,400 acres of the Tonto National Forest around Oak Flat are set up to be exchanged for 5,200 acres of Rio Tinto Copper Company property. This thesis examines the validity of the methods used by Resolution Copper, Rio Tinto’s subsidiary, to assess the social and environmental impacts of the Resolution Mine, and to determine how Resolution researches the potential environmental and social changes that will occur if the land swap and mine are approved. Resolution’s methods for predicting Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) are specifically examined and in this piece. Similarly, this thesis examines Resolution’s methods of assessing the social impact of the mine and land swap as it is felt by the San Carlos Apache, who consider Oak Flat a sacred site for the female coming of age ceremony, Na’ii’ees. Through literature review and primary research, it was determined that Resolution’s methods of AMD prediction and social assessment are insufficient. The EPA and the TNF are unable to effectively review the social and environmental risks of the Resolution Project with the insufficient social impact assessment and AMD prediction tests used in Resolution’s Baseline Geochemical Analysis. The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Resolution Mine should not be permitted until improved research is conducted and a more complete impact of these projects can be defined.